30Apr 2023 by Charles E. Price
More efforts needed to ensure legal aid for the poor

More efforts needed to ensure legal aid for the poor

LEGAL
THIS is concerning that poor prisoners suffer greatly in accessing justice. Although the government and some non-governmental organizations have provided legal aid services for a long time, many poor prisoners do not receive legal aid because of a number of issues and complications; and, they keep languishing in prisons without trial. The government in 2000 introduced the Legal Aid Services Act 2000 'to provide for legal aid to the litigants who are incapable of seeking justice due to financial insolvency, destitution, helplessness and for various socioeconomic conditions.' The government later established the National Legal Aid Services Organization, which is reported to have provided legal assistance for 3.53 lakh people since its establishment in 2009. The government has also established legal aid offices in all the 64 districts to offer legal…
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12Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price
Madrid clashes with the Balearics over cost-of-living legality measures

Madrid clashes with the Balearics over cost-of-living legality measures

ATTORNEY
It is not uncommon for a regional government to clash with the Spanish government over the extent of powers, but nevertheless disagreement is usually confined to single issues, in the case of the Balearic government's special measures to compensate for the cost-of-living crisesMadrid has objected to multiple aspects of regional legislation considered to be unconstitutional. When such differences arise, a bilateral commission is established in order to thrash them out. If they cannot be resolved, Madrid has the right to refer them to the Constitutional Court for rulings. This happened, for example, with Balearic legislation designed to make bullfighting untenable. The court ruled against the Balearic government. It isn't necessarily the case that the Spanish government opposes legislation in principle, but it has to go by the book - that…
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10Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price
Israel’s attorney-general tells Netanyahu to stay out of push for judicial changes

Israel’s attorney-general tells Netanyahu to stay out of push for judicial changes

ATTORNEY
By Maayan LubellJERUSALEM (Reuters) -Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must stay out of his cabinet's push to overhaul the judicial system, a plan that could give the government "unlimited power", Israel's attorney-general said on Thursday, adding friction to a bitter row over the proposals.In an official legal advisory to Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Gali Baharav-Miara said the planned changes would harm the country's democratic checks and balances, and risked giving the government unbridled power that would be "a sure recipe for harming human rights and clean governance".The plans to strengthen political control over appointments of judges, including the Supreme Court, while weakening that body's ability to overturn legislation or rule against the government, have brought tens of thousands of Israelis onto the streets in nationwide protests.Critics say the proposed changes will…
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04Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price
Israel’s attorney general says Netanyahu cannot be involved in a judicial system overhaul

Israel’s attorney general says Netanyahu cannot be involved in a judicial system overhaul

ATTORNEY
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel's attorney general has told Benjamin Netanyahu that he must not be involved in an overhaul to the country's judicial system proposed by his government because it would amount to a conflict of interest over the prime minister's corruption trial, according to a letter made public Thursday. Netanyahu's new far-right government has made changing the legal system a centerpiece of its legislative agenda and despite mounting public criticism, has charged ahead with steps to weaken the Supreme Court and grants politicians less judicial oversight in their policymaking. READ MORE: Blinken appeals for calm in Israel-Palestine conflict during trip to Middle East Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara's office also released her legal opinion concerning the proposed changes, and said they would deal “a serious blow to the…
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